The seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Los Angeles County increased to 9.9 percent in December, state officials reported. The December unemployment rate was up from a revised 8.9 percent in November, and above the 5.4 percent rate in December 2007, according to the Employment Development Department. In Orange County, where seasonally adjusted numbers were not available, the jobless rate was 6.5 percent, up from 6.1 percent in November.

The seasonally adjusted statewide unemployment rate was 9.3 percent in December, up from 8.4 percent in November and above the 5.9 percent rate in December 2007. The comparable estimates for the nation were 7.2 percent in December, 6.8 percent in November and 4.9 percent in December 2007.

"Our increasing unemployment rate makes it clear that the crisis in our nation's economy that has led to job losses is completely tied to our state budget shortfall," Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

"We cannot solve our fiscal problems without working to stimulate our economy, which is why I have continued to push for all four elements needed to pur out state on the right track: spending reductions, increasing revenues, making government run more efficiently and stimulating our economy by putting people back to work and helping families stay in their homes."

Between November and December, total nonfarm employment declined by 12,400 jobs to just more than 4.1 million in Los Angeles County. The information sector showed the largest month-over-month decline. A total of 492,000 people were unemployed in December in Los Angeles County, which has a labor force of 4.96 million. Statewide, more than 1.7 million people were out of work–up from 1.56 million in November.

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